I have been crocheting for decades but I recently started creating handbags. Turns out that handbags require a surprising amount of maths skill !?! (figuring out how to size the different sides to fit together is not trivial)
Here are pics of my recent efforts. The pink handbag was my first completed project and it came out quite wonky but I learned from that.
The pink/salmon cross-body bag is my most admired bag. Even while I was still only halfway through it, people were giving me compliments on it.
the little mini bag was the most disappointing. Not only is it very small but also the top flap looks ugly on the back (because of the way I finished it)
I’m currently trying to make a cotton bag which is fairly casual but the pattern is not working out as shown on the Etsy shop I got it from so I’m trying to improvise some fixes but I’m not sure if they’ll work out or not. (Well the bag making journey will likely continue for at least a few more weeks I think)
I do the same, even though I shouldn’t. Basically the only thing that makes me finish a project is some kind of useful deadline (I needed the pink bag to match shoes for a garden party and I didn’t want to buy a bag just for one use - but also because it was hard to find a matching color for my shoes anyway)
Just before loosing interest last time I had found this video about a method of holding the hook, which is unusual, but looks like it would help a lot to avoid hand pain, so I was going to try it… I will get back to it eventually, and at that point I will try.
This is a true work of art! Each piece takes a lot of time to complete and it is admirable. I really like the bottom right one. The shape and the pattern is on point!
I like the shape and pattern too but not the too small size. I may try it again and just go twice as big next time. (But I also need to figure out how to line the inside of a circular shape… bit hard I think)
Your bags are amazing. I started to crochet as I heard it would make continental and strand knitting easier as I use the English knitting method. It didn’t work but I now love crochet. I have made two jackets so far and I’m currently working on this top by Katerina Designs, I’m about 10 rows in the back. What I like about crochet is you can try on the clothes as you go along, no putting stitches on a holder.
Very cute animals. There’s a lady in our village that makes bigger version of these to put on her fence posts outside. She changes them every few months. At the moment he has a big chicken, an elephant and a squirrel. She’s being doing it for years.
Nice! I have only ever made a sweater, a vest and a bolero with crochet because it is a lot of work to do clothing the way I want (which is always different than any given pattern). I also made one belt which stretched out quite a bit (I need to unravel it and shorten it to keep wearing it).
My next clothing foray will probably be a macrame belt from a cotton macrame yarn that will hopefully not stretch once made.
Yes I always adjusted my clothing from the pattern, I didn’t want to go to the effort of making something that didn’t fit. Also adjusting a pattern from the gauge means you can use whatever yarn you want. I’m now into more looser fitting clothes so the above top is the first one I’ve done with just straight following the pattern sizes but I managed to get my gauge to more or less match so that was ok. Still have a spreadsheet for it though so I can record the increases and count the rows etc.
I was also thinking of doing a bucket hat and also a bag or purse or a purse or a phone holder.
hats are fun. I wish my head shape was not so long as most hats look weird on me so I tend to like slouchy styles (or alternatively a beret worn slightly off centre).
I made quite a few phone bags and gave them all away (except for the 2 I made strictly for myself). The most annoying thing about phone bags is that once they’re made you need to
1- make a strap or buy one that matches in style
2- they’re never big enough! XD (I always need to carry a few things more than my phone)
Crochet requires a lot of patience and I am afraid of trying it.
